Refrigerator



July 2, 1929- A, A. KUCHER 1,719,807

REFRIGERATOR Filed June 4, 1923 Il .00.' F Q la 1f e y WW 61` ATTORNEYPatented July 2, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW A. KUCHER, OF CHESTER, IPIEINITSYLVANI,v ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSEELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

nnrnrenna'ron.

Application filed .Tune 4,

My invention relates to refrigerating machines, particularly to smallcapacity machines of the compression type which are suitable forhousehold use. It'has for an object to provide a novel method and meansfor lubricating the mechanism which shall be'cffeet-ive during longperiods of service Wlthout attention.

It has foranother object to provide means for lubricating the mechanismwhich shall be adapted to employ a Working fluid having as constituentsa refrigerant and a lubricant admixing therewith to form a homogeneousfluid and separable only by'vaporization.

It has for another object the utilization of the heat generated by thecompression mechanism to separate by vaporization the refrigerantcomponent of the Working fluid, and for conveying the remainder of theWorking fluid to the Working parts of the machine.

It has for aV still further object to provide an original and novelmeans for conveying lubricant to the Working parts of the compressor andthe motor, and for collecting the lubricant. discharged therefrom byentraining the same in the refrigerant vapor passing from the evaporatorto the compressor.

These an d other obj ects, Which Will bemade apparent throughout thefurther description of the invention, may be attained by the employmentof the apparatus hereinafter described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a view in 'section illustratingthe condensing chamber and compression mechanism of a refrigerator 1nwhich my invention may be practiced; Fig. 2 is a plan view of thecompressor taken on the line II-II of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a view inperspective of the upper portion of the motor shaft with the compressorshaft removed.

lomprcssion refrigerators nominally comprise a" chamber in which aWorking fluid is evaporated at a relatively loW pressure andtemperature, a chamber in which the vapors are condensed at a higherpressure and temperature, a compression mechanism for translatin g thevapors from the evaporation cham? ber to the condensing chamber, and avalved conduit for returning the condensed fluid at a reduced pressureinto the evaporation chamber.A

The cycle is continuous during any period ofoperation, heat beingabsorbed from the 1923. Serial No. 64.35.464`

medi-um surrounding the evaporation chamber' to secure the desiredrefrigerating effect, whlch heat is removed from the apparatus bybringing an outside medium into heat-exchanging relation with theconduits of the.

- of the automatic devices which control the starting and stopping ofthe compression mechanism. In general, the compression mechanism istightly encased to prevent es cape of the Working Huid and, for thisreason, some means for the lubrication thereof must be provided whichwill operate Without at-` tention 4continuously and reliably for longperiods of time, as for example, for one or more years. It is to thisproblem of effec-l tively lubricating enclosed compression mechanismsassociated with refrigerators. of the type above indicated, that thepresent invention relates. 4

It has heretofore been proposed to employ in compression refrigerators alubricant which is immiscible With the refrigerant.

Many liquids possessing to a greater or less extent this property havebeen used, generally With incomplete success, since no combination ofrefrigerant and lubricant has been found in which the liquids do notmingle to some extent when brought together under the conditions ofagitation obtaining in a compression refrigerator. Mechanical separatorsof various types have beenemployed in connection with machines of thischaracter to facilitate the segregation of the lubricant and therefrigerant. This expedient has improved the operation but has notresulted in accomplishing sufficiently complete segregation of thefluids to enable compression refrigerators utilizing a compound Workingfluid of this `character to operate for long periods Without thereplacing of the lubricant.

In my machine, I employ a Working fluid consisting of a refrigerant anda lubricant which readily mix one with the other to form a. homogeneousor liquid solution, and which I have disclosed in my Patent No.41,645,198,

issued Oct. 11, 1927, and entitled Working fluid for refrigeration. Thisworking fluid is of such character that its constituents aremechanically inseparable. Separation may, however, take place by thevaporization of one of the constituents due to sufficient temperature orpressure changes.

By applying the heatgenerated by the compression mechanism to the liquidworking uid, a change of temperature is produced .sufficient to vaporizeoff the refrigerant but not the lubricant. The refrigerant having beenvaporized pff, I convey the remainder of the liquid working fluid, whichis substantially lubricant and which for reasons of brevity I mayhereafter designate as lubricant, to the working parts of the machine.After being discharged therefrom. the lubricant 1s conveyed to the inletport of the compressor, wherein it once more mingles with therefrigerant and at the same time serves to lubricate in passing through.the relatively moving parts of the compressor.

In my apparatus, I employ a hollow motor shaft, utilizing the bore ofthe shaft to convv'ey the lubricant discharged by one of the bearings ofthe motor to the remaining bearing. In addition thereto, I employ anovel and improved arrangement of guards and baffles for confining thelubricant and for pre-V venting leakage upon the current bearing por-'tions of the motor. I have found that by the .that this invention maybe practiced in other types of compression machines, and that theapparatus illustrated and herein described is employed by way of exampleand as an aid in presenting a c ear exposition of my invention. Asillustrated, 10 designates a condensing chamber. A compressor 11 drivenby a suitable motor 12 is disposed within the chamber. The condensingchamber 10 comprises a bell or dome 13 secured to a base plate 14 as bytap bolts 15 and a flange ring 16. Sup'- ported upon the base plate 14is an inverted cup-shaped casting 17 forming a housing for the motor,and superimposed thereon is a receptacle 18 which houses the compressor11 and serves as a collection chamber for the liquid working fiuiddischarged thereby. Suspended from the base plate 14 is a removablecup-shaped casting 19 for permitfreedom of axial movelnent between theshafts and greatly facilitating -assembly of the compressor and themotor. The shaft mechanism is supported by a lower bearing 24 providedin the casting 19, an intermediate bearing 25 provided in the upperportion of the casting 17, and an upper bearing 26 provided in thecompressor. 'The compressor may be of any well-known type. As shown, itcomprises a housing 27 and an end cover 28, which includes the upperbearing 26. The housing 27 is provided with a cylindrical bore intowhich opens an inlet port 29 and an outlet port 30. The inner boredsurface of the housing has arcuate grooves 31 and 32 which communicatewith the ports 29 and 30 respectlvely. A rotor 33 is mounted upon theshaft 22, the rotor and shaft being eccelltrieally disposed with respectto the bore of the housing 27. Radial slots 34 provided in the rotor 33are adapted to receive slidablc vanes 35. The radial slots 34 are-sospaced from the shaft 22 as to provide sufficient continuous surfaceupon the rotor for the formation of a liquid seal by the lubricantpassing radially outward between the coverl 28 and the upper end faceofthe rotor 33. The vanes 35 are provided with tip pieces 36 whichslidably engage the inner bore of the housing 27 and are freeto assumeany degree of angular-ity required by the contour of said bore. Thevanes 35 are held radially outward andthe tip pieces 36 are in turn heldagainst the bore of the housing 27 by rods 37 and springs 38. The rods37 are arranged in holes provided in the rotor and shaft, and thesprings 38 surround the respective rods and exert outward pressureagainst the vanes.

The discharge port 30 of the compressor connnunicates with a conduit 41having an open end 42 and supporting a baffle 43 for separating thelnixed liquid working fluid and refrigerant vapor discharged from thecompressor. The receptacle 18 communi- Cates with the condensing chamberthrough an outlet 44 provided in the upper portion thereof for thepassage of refrigerant vapors, and through an opening 45, whereby anexcessiverise in the level of the liquid working fluid within thereceptacle is prevented. Condensing coils 46 are arranged in the upperpart of the dome 13 and are provided with an inlet connection 47 and anoutlet connection (not shown) which pass without the chamber. Thecondensed fluid is conveyed to the evaporator by a conduit 47 and theflow is controlled by a reducing valve 48. The reducin valve 48 isactuated by a float 49, where y a constant body of liquid is maintainedin the condensing chamber. Refrigerant vapor is returned from theevaporator through a passage 51 arranged concentrically without thedischarge conduit 47 andvcommunicating with the suction port 29 of thecompressor. nisliing current to the motor passes through a gas-tightplug 53 located in the base plate 14.

Lubricant is supplied to the upper shaft bearing 26 by means of'aninverted bent tube 54 having an open inlet 55 and having its dischargefend communicating through a reducer 56, with a cylindricalpassage 57 arranged co-axially with the shaft. Lubricant then passes bymeans of a groove 58 into the wearing surfaces ofthe upper bearing 26and is discharged at the lower end thereof uponxthe rotor of thecompressor. After passing through the various clearances between theworking parts of the compressor, the lubricant moves downwardly througha groove '59 to lubricate the bearing25. It then seeps downwardlybetween the shaft andthe casin g and is trapped by a circular groove 61pro- 'vided in the compressor shaft 22. The eircular groove 61communicates through a radially disposed opening 162 and a hollowportion 63 of the compressor shaft with a conduit 64 which extendsdownwardly into the hollow motor shaft 21.

In order to prevent lubricant, which may seep past the circular groove61, from falling upon the armature windings of the motor, I provide anoil catcher 65 which is soldered or welded to a jacket 66 which in turnis soldered or welded to the motor shaft 21.` Any lubricant which mayseep past the trapping means .or circular groove 61 falls upon the upperend face of the motor shaft 21 and is thrown radially outward byCentrifugal force into the oil catcher 65. lie lubricant is drained fromthe oil catcher 65 by means of an opening 67 and a longitudinal groove68 which communicates with the bore of the motor shaft 21. l

The lubricant is discharged at the lower end of the motor shaft into acircular recess 71 provided in the cup-shaped casting 19. The circularrecess 71 communicates with an annular opening 72 formed by the ballretainer rings 7 3 and 74 of the bearing 24. It further communicatesthrough an opening 75 with an annular passage 76, which in turn isdrained by means of acondnit 77. 'The conduit 77 is connected through aunion connection 78 to the suction pipe 79V through which the compressordraws refrigerant vapors from the evaporators. The lower sur# face oftheannular passage 76 isv disposed a slight distance below the centerline `of the balls 85, and a level of lubricant correspond- -ingtheretois consequently maintained about An electric cable 52 for fur-lthe bearing. This construction provided ample lubrication for thebearing and at the same time insures against an excess accumulation oflubricant in the lower portion of the motor housing. l In order tofurther guard against lubricant being carried upwardly by the shaft andconiing in contact with the current bearing portions of the motor, Iintcrpose a series of baffles between the motor and the bearing 24. I.have found from experiment, that ioipon a stoppage of the appara-tus,there is an equalization of pressure between the condensing chamber andthe motor chamber and that the gas ,flowing back through the conduit 77sprays the lubricant, which inay be contained in the conduit 77, backinto the motor chamber. I therefore provide a check valve 80 which isdisposed in the conduit and a baffle 81 which is snugly fitted in thelbore of the casting 19. This baffle extends over the inlet end of theconduit 77, and any lubricant which may leak past the check valve and besprayed'therefrom is impinged -upon it. I

also provide a baille 82, which 4is rotatable' with the motor shaft, anda sleeve 83. This sleeve transmits the weight carried by the shaftImechanism to the ball retainer 74 and also holds the baille 82 rigidlyagainst a Silitable shoulder provided on the motor shaft. Any lubricantwhich may creep upwardly on the sleeve 83 is carried on to the battle 82and is throw-n tangentially therefrom by the action of centrifugalforce. Communication between the motor and the bearing 24 is stillfurther restricted by a third baffle 84 which is fixed in the casting19, and through which the motor shaft extends, making a close clea-ryance therewith. Y

The operation of the apparatus thus described is as follows: Thecondensing chainber 10 and the receptacle 1'8 disposed therein arefilled to a level such as indicated on the drawing with a suitableworking fluid. The working Huid generally employedjn my apparatus is acombination of a refrigerant and a' lubricant which readily mix one withthe other to forma homogeneous liquid or physical solution. Uponstarting the motor 12, the compressor 11 discharges through the port 3()and conduit 41 a cominingled liquid working fluid and vapor whichimpinge upon the baille 43. The liquid working fluid and the vapor aresubstantially separated thereby,

'the liquid falling to the lower portion of the receptacle 18 and 'thevapor passing out through the opening 44 into the condensing chamber.The liquid working fluid within ico Cil

with the coils 46 and are condensed by the cooling action thereof. Theliquid refrigerant falls to the lower portion of the con dcnsingchamber, and, upon sufficient rise of liquid level therein, the fioat 49will act to open the reducing valve 48 to permit a How of liquidrefrigerant through the conduit 47 to the evaporators. Within theevaporators (not shown), the refrigerant liquid is evaporated by .theabsorption of heat from the refrigerator box, and the refrigerant vaporsreturn through the conduit 79 and passage 51 to the inlet port 29 of thecompressor 11.

, Lubrication ofthe working parts of the compression mechanisme-isaccomplished as follows: The liquid working fluid contained in t-hereceptacle 18, which has been subjected to the heat of the compressorand therefore contains a. high percentage of lubricant, is conveyed bymeans of the conduit 54 and the difference in pressures prevailingbetween the motor chamber and the condensing chamber to the cylindricalopening 57, providedin the upper portion of the compressor. Thelubricant feeds downwardly through the groove 58, is carried into thewearing 'surfaces of the bearing 26, and is deposited at the lower endthereof upon the end face of the rotor 33. Because of the action ofcentrifugal force, the lubricant is then carried radially outwardbetween'the end cover 28 and the end face of the rotor 33 until aportion thereof drains downwardly through the clearances providedbetween the slots 34 and the vanes 35. The slots 34 are so spaced fromthe shaft, however, that prior to a portion of the lubricant beingremoved from the end face of the rotor, a completely circular liquidseal has been formed between the rotor and the end cover 28, whereby theefficiency of the compression mechanism is very materially improved. Thelubricant which is not drained downwardly through the clearances betweenthe slots 34 and vanes 35, is carried outwardly and down over thecircular face of the rotor 33. A portion of this lubricant is entrainedin the refrigerant vapors passing through the compressor, while theremaining portion, together with the lubricant from the slots 34, is'deposited upon the upper surface of the -motor housing 17 The lubricantdeposited thereon forms a film of liquid between the' rotor 33 and theAupper surface of the motor housing 17, and a portion of this lubricantis in turn conveyed by means of the difference in pressures prevailing.within the receptacle `18 and the motor housing 17 into the groove 59and thence tothe wearing surfaces of the intermediate bearing 25. Thislubricant then seeps downwardly between the compressor shaft and thehousing, and a considerable portion is trapped within the circulargroove 61, and, by means of the relatively low pressure prevailingwithin the lmotor housing 17, the opening 62 and the hollow portion.portions thereof is very remote.

63 of the compressor shaft, is conveyed into the conduit 64 and thenceto the bore of the motor shaft 21.

A small quantity of lubricant may seep past the circular groove 61 andbe discharged from the lower end of the bearing. This lubricant will bedeposited upon the upper end face of the motor shaft 21, whercupon'itwill be thrown outward, by the action of centrifugal force, into thelubricant catcher 65. It is retained in the lubricant catcher, by theaction of centrifugal force, until such time as there is a stoppage ofthe apparatus,

whereupon the lubricant drains by gravity,

through the opening 67 and groove 68 to the bore of the motor shaft 21.By the employnient of such apparatus for catching lubricant dischargedfrom a bearing located directly above a motor, the possibility ofleakage of the lubricant uponthe current bealring I lave found fromexperiment, that my apparatus may be operated for long and extendedperiods of time, without injury whatsoever to the windings of the motorbecause of lubrication troubles.

Lubricant discharged from the lower end of the motor shaft 21 passes tothe circular recess 71 and to the bearing 24. The lubricant is withdrawnfrom the bearing through the the bearing, and at the same time reducesto a minimum the possibility of excess liquid bcing carried upwardly bythe shaft towards the motor.-

l Upon the lubricant being drawn into the compressor, it may.again bedischarged into the receptacle 18 and the cycle of operation repeated.Should the level 'of the liquid working fluid within the receptacle riseat any time above the opening 45, the excess liquid working fluid,containing a high percentage of lubricant. overflows into the condensingchamber and commingles with the liquid working fluid therein. Upon anopening ,of the reducing -valve 48, it is conveyed to the evaporators(not shown). The method of circulating the liquid working fluid, havingcontained `therein a quantity of lubricant, through the evaporators andback to the compressor, is disclosed in my Patent No. 1.656,918 issuedJanuary 24, 1928, and entitled Refrigerator.

lVhile I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that itis not so limited, b ut is susceptibleofvarious other changes and modifications without departing from thespirit thereof, and l desire, therefore, that only such vlimitationsshall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art oras are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What l claim is:

1. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combinationof a body of liquidWorking fluidcom posed of an intimate mixture of a refrigerant and alubricant, `a closed condensing chamber, a compressor for dischargingrefrigerant vapor and entrained liquid Working' fluid, said compressorbeing disposed Within the condensing chamber, means provided Within thecondensing chamber for subjecting the liquid vvorlring fluid dischargedby the compressor to heat for vaporizing ed' its refrigerant component,and means for employing the liquid Working fluid thus ,treated forlubricating parts of the apparatus. A

2. ln aretrigeratin'g apparatus, the combination of a body of liquidworking ,duid composed of a refrigerant and a lubricantvvhich togetherform a homogeneous mixture, a closed condensing chamber, a compressorfor discharging refrigerant .vapor and entrained liquid Working duid,ysaid compressor being disposed Within the condensing chamber, meansprovided yWithin the condensing chamber for collecting the liquidWorking fluid discharged by the compressor and for subjiecting it to theheat generated by said 1Com-, presser for vaporiain'g od its refrigerantcomponent, and means for employing the remainingrl` liquid forlubricatingr portions of the apparatus.

3. lln a refrigerating apparatus `in which a rvorlring fluid composed ofan intimate mirture of a refrigerant and lubricantl is employed, thecombination of a condensing chamber, a motor and compressor Within saidcon densing chamber, means Within the condens liti till ing chamber forcollecting the liquid portion of the rvorlring duid dischairgedby thecompresser and for subjecting said liquid vvorlring liuid to the heat ofthe motor and the comressor for vaporiaing ed the refrigerant trom "theliquid portion of the discharged rvorlning lluid, anu means foremployingthe liquid vrorlring duid thus treated for lubricating themotor and the compressor.

ll. lln combination, means for circulating a refrigerant medium in aclosed cycle,

meansn permitting the circulation of lubricating medium with therefrigerant medium during` the entire compression portion of therefrigerant medium circulating cycle, means for substantiallylseparating the lubricating medium and refrigerating medium by theapplication of heat at a predetermined point 1n the cycle, means forutilizing portions of the separated lubricant medium to lubricate vtherefrigerant mediumA circulating means, and means forentraining theselportions in the expanded'refricglerant medium passing tothe refrigerantme ium circulating means.

liquid Working Hui 5. In a refrigerating apparatus in which a Workingfluid composed of an intimate mixture of a refrigerant and lubricant isemployed, the combi-nation of a` condensing chamber, means provided inthe condensing chamber for maintaining a substantially constant levcl ofliquid Working duid therein, a receptacle for liquid Working fluidWithin the condensing chamber', means for subjecting the liquid workingHuid within the receptacle to heat for vaporizing oilf the refrigerant,and means for limiting the maximum level of the liquid Working fluidthus treated, the said maximum level in the receptacle being higher thanthe level of the liquid working duid in the condensing chamber. p

G. ln a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a body of workinghuid composed of an intimate mixture of a/refrigerant and a lubricantwhich together form a physical solution, a closed condensing chamber, areceptaclel for liquid Worlring duid, a com i presser disposed in theliquid Working duid contained in the receptacle and having its dischargeport communicating with the re. ceptacle and Wit-h the condensingchamber, vvhereby the discharge pressure of the compresser prevailsWithin the receptacle and in the condensing chamber, and conduit meanssubject to the pressure prevailing Within the receptacle for conveyingthe liquid surround ing the compressor to the Worlring parts of theapparatus.

l. lln a refrigerating apparatus,` the ycombination of a body of liquidWorlring duid composed of an intimate minture of a refrigerant and alubricant, a condensing chamber, a compressor for dischargingrefrigerant vapor and entrained liquid vvorlring duid, a

ieu y lllll 8. ln `a refrigerating apparatus in which a Working fluidcomposed of an intimate minture of a refrigerant and a lubricant isern-- ployed, a condensin chamber, a receptacle or liquid Working uidwithin the condens ingchamber, a coni ressor disposed in the' wherebythe heat of4 the compressor may be employed to vaporize ofi' refrigerantfrom theliqui Workin fluid, a motor chamber, a motor disposed t erein, ashaft structure having a hollow portion for transmitting torque from themotor to the compressor, a. bearing for said shaft provided in thecompressor, a second bearing for the shaft interposed between the motor'andthe compressor, a third bearing for supporting 'the shaft provided inthe motor chamber,

bearing, and forl conveying it to the hollow portion of the shaftstructure, means for catching lubricant which may seep past the trappingmeans,`means for discharging the caught lubricant to the hollow portionof the shaft structure during non-operation of the apparatus, means forconveying the lubricant from the hollow portion ot' the shaft to thethird bearing, and pumping means for removing the lubricant from thelast-mentioned bearing.

9. In a refrigerating apparatus, 'in which a liquid is evaporated in onechamber, the vapor is pumped into another chamber and condensed thereinat a higher` pressureand thence returned to the first chamber at areduced pressure, the combination of a comv ressor -a motor for drivinthe com ressor, means for utilizing-atleast a portion of the heatgenerated by the motor for vaporizing olf the refrigerant component ofthe liquid working'fluid, and means for utilizing the residuum as alubricating fiuid.

10. In a refrigerating apparatus in which a liquid is evaporated in onechamber,

, the vapor is pumped into another chamber and condensed therein at ahigher pressure and thence returned to the first chamber at a reducedpressure, the combination ofa' compressor, a motor for driving the' compressor, means for utilizing at least a portion of the heat generated byboth the motor and the compressor for vaporizing ofl:l therefriverantcomponentof a portion of the liquid working fluid, and meansfor utilizing the residuum as a lubricating fluid.

11. In a refrigrating apparatus in which a liquid is evaporated in onechamber,the vapor is pumped into another chamber and condensed thereinat a higher pressure and thence returned to the `first chamber at areduced pressure, the combination of a body of liquid working fluidcomposed of an intimate mixture of 'a refrigerant and a lubricant whichtogether form a physical solution, a. compressor for discharginrefrigerant vapor and entrained liquid working fluid, a driving motortherefor, means for separatiiuid from the refrigerant vapor dischargedby the compressor, means for utilizing the heat generated by thecompressor to vaporize off the refrigerant component of the separatedliquid, and means for utilizing the residuum for lubricating thecompressor and motor.

12. In a refrigerating apparatus in which a liquid is evaporated in onechamber, the vapor is pumped into another chamber and condensed thereinat a higher pressure and thence returned to the first chambcrtat areduced pressure, the combination of a body of liquid working fluidcomposed of an intimate mixture of a refrigerant and a lubricant whichtogether forni a physical solution, a compressor for dischargingrefrigerant vapor and. entrained liquid Working fluid, meansv forseparating the liquid working fluid from the refrigerant vapordischarged by the compressor, means for utilizing the heat generated bythe compressor to vaporize oil the refrigerant. component of theseparated liquid, means for utilizing the residuuln for lubricatingportions of the apparatus, and means for entraining'the liquid used as alubricant in the refrigerant vapor passing to the compressor.

13. In a refrigerating apparatus in which a liquid is evaporated in onechamber, the vapor is pumped into another chamber and condensed thereinat a higher pressure and thence returned to the first chamber at areduced pressure, the combination of a compressor for dischargingrefrigerant vapor and liquid Working fluid, a motor for driving thecompressor, means .for separatingr the liquid working fiuid from therefrigerantvapor discharged by the compressor, means for subjecting theseparated liquid to at least a portion of the heat generated by thecompressor and thei'motor for vapori zing o the refrigerant component ofthe liquid, and means for utilizing the residuum to lubricate portionsof the machine.

14. In a refrigerating apparatus in which a liquid is evaporated in onechamber, the vapor is pumped into another chamber and condensed thereinat a higher pressure and thence returned to theiirst lchamber at areduced pressure, the combination of a body of liquidfworking fluidcomposed of an intimate mixture of a refrigerant and a lubricant whichtogether form a homogeneous mixture or physical solution, a compressorfor discharging refrigerant vapor having en- .trained therei'n liquidworking fiuid, a motor for driving the compressor, means associatedywith the discharge portion of the compressor for separating theentrained liquid working .fluid from the refrigerant vapor, means forbringing-the separated liquid into heat exchanging relation with thecompressor for vaporizing off its refrigerant component, means forutilizing the residuuln of the liquid working fluid as a lubricant forthe compresser and then for the motor, and means for returning saidlubricating fluid to the linlet of the compressor.

15. The method of lubricating 'a refrigeratmg machine Which consists inemploying a l1quid working fluid consisting of a refrigerant and alubricant which together form a lous mixture or physical solution, ofutilizing at least a portion of the heat generated by the .compressionmechanism to vaporize off the refr1gerant component ofi-the l1qu1dWorkmg fluid, and of utilizing the residue as a fluid for lubricatingparts ofthe machine.

17. The method of lubricating a refrigerating machine having acompressor and a motor for driving the compressor which consists inemploying a liquid'W-orking fluid consisting of a refrigerant and alubricant-Which to gether form, a homogeneous mixture or Ll U physicalsolution, of utilizing at least a portion of the heat of the motor tovaporize off the refrigerant component of the liquid working fluid, andof utilizing the residue as a fluid for lubricating parts of themachine.

18. The method of lubricating a refrigerat ing machine having. acompressor and a motor for driving the compressor which consists inemploying a liquid Working luid consisting of a refrigerant and alubricant'vvhich together form a homogeneous mixture or physicalsolution, of utilizing at least a prtion'of the heat generated bybot-h'thefcompressor and the motor to vaporize olf the refrigerantcomponent of therliquid working fluid, and of utilizing the residue as afluid for lubricating the Working parts of the machine.

19. The combination with a refrigerating apparatusembodying ahigh-pressure. portion including acondcnser and a low-pressure portionas Well as a compressor for translating refrigerant vapor from theW-pres-l sure portion to the high-pressure portion,-

of means for 'entraining liquid Working fluid having both refrigerantand lubricant constituents in the refrigerant vapor passing to thecompression mechanism,

and means for subjecting said entrained liquid Working fluid, upon itsdischarge from the compression mechanism, to heat for vaporizing off therefrigerant constituent of the entrained liquid, whereby the vremainingportion of the entrained liquid may be utilized as a lubricant for therefrigerating apparatus.

20. The combination with a refrigeratmg apparatus embodying ahigh-pressure portion mcludmg a condenser and a low pressure portion asWell as a compressor for translating refrigerant vapor from thelow-pressure portion to the high-pressure portion, of means forentraining liquid Working fluid having both refrigerant and lubricantconstituents in/the refrigerant vapor passing to the compressionmechanism, means for subjecting said entrained liquid Working fluid,upon its discharge from the' compression mechanism, to at least aportiontof the heat generated by the compression mechanism forvaporizing off the refrigerant constituent of the entrained liquid, andmeans for utilizing the residuum of the liquid thus treated as alubricating fluid for the refrigrating apparatus.

21. The combination with a refrigerating apparatus embodying ahigh-pressure portion including a condenser and a loiv-pressure portionas Well as a compressor driven by a motor for translating refrigerantvapor from the low-pressure portion to the high-pressure portion, ofmeans for entraining liquid Working fluid having both refrigerant andlubricant constituents in the refrigerant vapor passing to thecompressor, means for separating the entrained liquid Working fluid fromthe refrigerant vapor upon its discharge from the compressor, means forsubjecting the separated entrained liquid working fluid to at least aportion of the heat generated by the compressor andthe motor forvaporizing oft the refrigerant constituent of the entrained liquid, andmeans for utilizing the liquid thus treated as a fluid for lubricatingthe refrigerating apparatus.

22. The combinatioan with a refrigerating `apparatus includingv acompressor, a motor `for driving the compressor and a hermeticallysealed casing enclosing the motor and the compressor, of means providedwithin the casing for retaining a body of liquid having both refrigerantand lubricant constituents, said retaining means being disposed in heatexchanging relation With the compressor, vhereby the refrigerantconstituent of the body of liquid is vaporized od by the application ofat least a portion of the heat generated by the compressor, means forcondensing the refrigerant vapor thus formed, and means provided Withinthe casing for conveying the liquid thus treated to the Working parts ofthe compressor and the motor for lubricating the same.

23. The combination with a refrigerating apparatus including acompressor, a motor for driving the compressor and a hermetical casingfor retaining a body of liquid having Aboth refrigerant and lubricantconstituents,

. said retaining means bein disposed in heat exchanging relation with te motor, whereby the refrigerant constituent of the b'ody of liquidisvaporized oli' by the application thereto of at least a portion ofthe/,heat generated by the motor, means fori/.condensing the rcfrigerantvapor thus/produced, and means provided within the'casing for conveyingthe heated liquid to/the Working parts of the compressor and tbe motorfor lubricating the same. y.'

24. 'lilieconibination with a refrigerating apparatus including acompressor, a motor fordriving the compressor and a hermetically sealedcasing enclosing the motor and the compressor, of nuans provided withinthe casing for retaining a body of liquid having both refrigerant andlubricant constituents,

said retaining means being disposed in heat exchanging relation with thecompressor and the motor, whereby the refrigerant constituent of thebody of liquid is vaporized off by the application of at least a portionof the heatqgenerated by the compressor and the motor, means forcondensing the refrigerant vapor thus liberated, and means providedWithin the casing for conveying the heated liquid to the Working partsof the compressor and the motor for lubricating the same.

25. The method of lubricating a refrigerating machine which consists inemploying a liquid workin fluid consisting of a refrigerant and a luricant which together form a ohomogeneous mixture or physical solution,

maintaining a,y portion of said fluid predominautlylubricant by'tbeapplication of heat, and using said portion to lubricate parts of themachine.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 22nd dayof May, 1923.

ANDREW A. KUCHER.

